My A-Z Travel Challenge

I received this challenge from Johanna Bradley, of http://restlessjo.wordpress.com a few days ago, and it made me think…a lot;(Thanks Jo, LOL) it also made me realize I need to get going on my bucket list pronto! Therefore, if there are any travel companies out there listening, I am letting you know now–I am available for travel assignments. LOL.

A: Age at which you went on your first trip abroad:

Nineteen, when I left Panama for the very first time–went to Brooklyn, New York, on a 6-month visit, yeah!

B: Best foreign beer you have had and where:

I am not much of a beer drinker, but I prefer light beers–Heineken, or when I travel to Miami, Cerveza Panama.

C: Cuisine:

Give me some Latin or Caribbean food any day of the week, (Panama, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, etc.) closely followed by Indian and Mediterranean. I, however, am known for trying all kinds of foods at least once.

D: Destinations, favorite, least favorite, and why:

I love big cities New York, Miami, Orlando, and Atlanta where I once lived and still have family are favorites. I also love London and Paris, and Panama of course, even though it is not a big city—it is where I come from. I do not have a least favorite destination…yet.

E: Event you experienced abroad that made you say, “Wow!”

There are many, but the first time I saw a skyscraper in New York City, that image remains etched on my mind. I was nineteen years old and it was the first time I’d been away from my parents’ watchful eyes, I will never forget it.

F: Favorite mode of transportation:

Airplanes, I want to get there fast!

G: Greatest feeling while travelling:

Anticipation, I cannot wait to get where I am going, let the fun begin.

H: Hottest place you have travelled to, where?

Florida, in July and still we went ahead and moved here, LOL

I: Incredible service you have experienced and why:

Pampering received during a 7-day cruise to Bermuda, because they catered to my every whim and I loved it!

J: Journey that took the longest:

My sister and I, took a road trip from New York to Florida, twice; just for the fun of it and with our young children in tow. I would never do that one again!

K: Keepsake from your travels:

I bought two handbags in Paris; and a few Pashmina scarves in London. I usually shop for things that are practical and wearable, not too big on keepsakes.

L: Letdown sight, where and why:

I am sure there are some, but I just cannot remember them.

M: Moment when you fell in love with travel:

The first time I got on a plane, from Panama to New York. That was it!

N: Nicest hotel you have stayed at while traveling:

We travel as cheaply as possible. However, any Marriott usually does the trick.

O: Obsession: what are you obsessed with taking photos of when you travel:

Boats, beaches, sunsets, old churches, museums, and gardens usually get my attention as well as unusual sights. Architectural structures that are unique and beautiful.

P: Passport stamps, how many and from where:

Very few in the last few years–London, Paris, Bermuda and Panama; I better get going on that bucket list!

Q: Quirkiest attraction you have visited and where:

Orlando’s only upside-down attraction, WonderWorks, an amusement park for the mind featuring over one hundred interactive exhibits for people of all ages. I had the weirdest experience upon entering the exhibit building, thought it was moving–not. LOL. That was a very funny experience.

R: Recommended sight, event or experience:

A trip to Paris, which includes a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum and a cruise on the River Seine.

S: Splurge; something you have no problem forking out money for when travelling:

I do not mind splurging for a room with a view, and dinner at a fancy restaurant now and then.

T: Touristy thing you have done:

When I arrived in New York for the first time, I made sure to tour all the big attractions–Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, and all the museums I could get into; that was a lot of fun. Who knew I would be living there for the next twenty years and would get to visit those sites over and over every time friends and family would come to visit. LOL

U: Unforgettable travel memory:

Roundtrip London to Paris on the Chunnel, which included visits to many, must see sites and some off the beaten path places.

V: Visas, how many and for where:

I can only wish, but so far none.

W: Wine, best glass of wine had while travelling, where:

The best wine I have ever drank was had in Paris, at a friend’s home.

X: eXcellent view and from where:

Sunsets on the beach, in Florida

Y: Years spent travelling:

More than I can remember, but mostly within the states. Seriously, I have to get that bucket list thing going. LOL

Z: Zealous sports fans and where:

New York Yankees fans; don’t even mention the Mets to them.

Well, this has been a fun exercise (but it made me think too much) so now I pass it on to some of my fellow bloggers. Let us see, who is next?

Traveling to far away places… (mecwrites25.wordpress.com)

10 Jan 2012 22

Port Charlotte? Where is that?

A view of the harbor, from Laishley Park

Port Charlotte? Where is that? It does not sound like a place where there will be much to do. That is usually the way the conversation goes when I talk to strangers, right after the standard introductions; almost everyone I meet says the same thing. To which I respond, as if on autopilot, “we are in Florida, on the Gulf Coast of Mexico right between Fort Myers and Sarasota”. Suddenly, an Aha moment—as Oprah would say–I know where that is, my grandma’s friend has a house down there somewhere. LOL

Funny thing is, there are enough things to do in Port Charlotte and its surroundings; the area boasts some of the best beaches–Boca Grande, Siesta Key, Sanibel, Clearwater, come to mind—that you can find anywhere on the Gulf Coast, all within less than an hour’s drive. Sunsets are beautiful and plentiful; except of course, on those days when the skies open up and let out the thunderstorms and lightning we are so famous for, which earned the Tampa Bay’s area the dubious “Lightning Capital of the U.S.” moniker.

During this time of the year, when the freezing weather up north ensures our population swells with the arrival of “snowbirds” looking to escape the snow and cold, there is so much going on, locals have a difficult time finding a place to eat where the wait is less than an hour.

Arts, film, and music festivals, and gallery exhibits, block parties, plays and everything else you can think of, are in plentiful supply. In addition, there is always fishing and boating, or year-round drum circles at nearby Venice and Sarasota beaches, where every Saturday evening you can let go your inner hippie while enjoying the music–bring your own drums, food and drinks and prepare to welcome the most beautiful sunsets ever!

Day in Fort Myers, Florida! – Fort Myers, FL (travelpod.com)

5 Jan 2012 15

Happy New Year everyone…it is now 2012!

It is official: 2012 is here, have a Happy New Year!

1 Jan 2012 17

Life is a beach…winter season in SW Florida

It dawned on me today, after talking about the weather up north and in other far away (from me, anyway) cold places–Ireland, London, Seattle to name a few, that either I have it pretty good or we always seem to think the grass really is greener on the other side. Truthfully, we all have exactly what we need, when we need it.

I lived in New York for over twenty years and never complained about the weather there as much as I do here in Florida; but that is mostly because NY provided relief from heat when Fall, Winter and Spring arrived. There was the change of seasons to look forward to, the anticipation of shedding one type of clothing for another.

Life's a beach — Life is a beach, Manasota Key, FL

During winter, of course, you bulked up with coats, layers of clothes, donned boots, and gloves, and hats and whatever else you needed in order to stay warm–leg warmers? I have not seen or heard of those things in years! And even though I did not like the winter months, especially when it snowed, I still looked forward to some of the things that came with it–ice skating (the children, not me), concerts, plays, etc.

Our side of Florida offers no such season changes, but it does allow for the occasional sweater or light wind breaker now and then, and a common outfit for this time of the year might be shorts, sweatshirts and sandals–a compromise I guess.

Most people assume it is hot down here all the time, not so. In the years we have lived on Florida’s West Coast, we have experienced temperatures as low as 30s and as high as the 100s; good thing the average stays in the 80s and the extremes only last for a couple of days. Sometimes that’s good, sometimes not. When it is cold up north during the winter months, our days are pretty good, cold fronts from the north produce really nice weather; mornings and evenings are nice and cool, sometimes even cold (for us) but daytime temps stay comfortable enough to sometimes warrant a trip to the beach.

That was the case this week, it started out with a couple of cold days and by Thursday it felt like Summer. So I took myself and camera to the beach, to verify what I already suspected. Our “snowbirds” (tourists) where there, not an empty parking spot could be found at the first three beaches I stopped at–Stump Pass, Englewood, Blind Pass and finally when I arrived at Manasota Key–I found a parking space, and all I wanted to do was to take some pictures.

Aah, yes, I still remember those days when I thought nothing of diving into 65-70 degree waters, brrr… thank goodness that was a long time ago. But still…what was I thinking?

And now… we dive into a New Year, 2012. Does anyone still remember how we were freaking out as the New millennium, Y2K, approached? It came and went along with 11 more years, yikes!!! Time sure flies…

Lea Michelle sings Auld Lang Syne Happy New Year to one and all, let’s keep on reading and writing, and let us enjoy life!

31 Dec 2011 12

More photos from Fishermen’s Village, FL

Northerner in Florida, riding his motorcycle. It is 80 degrees outside today.

My day trip through Fishermen’s Village continues, I had a willing Northerner (New Hampshire) volunteer for this picture, I think it was because he noticed me trying to take his picture–on the sly. LOL